For years, Gloucester has been talking about and brainstorming ideas to renovate the O’Maley Courtyard.

This .8 acre concrete plaza has looked pretty much the same since O’Maley opened in the mid-1970s, and has never been a functional space for students or staff. Students refer to it as a “prison yard”, and staff and families have voiced for decades that it isn’t just unattractive - it is negatively affecting the community’s perception of the school. It is, however, heavily utilized. It serves as the primary arrival and dismissal area, the “playground” for recess, and as an uncomfortable (too sunny, too windy, nowhere to sit) space for the occasional outdoor class. Despite efforts by the City, parent groups, and volunteers to improve the courtyard over many years, it has remained a sore spot.

Knowing how badly the space needs an upgrade and understanding the impact a renovated courtyard could have on every O’Maley student and staff member every day, GEF began an exploration process in spring 2025. This phase included:

• reviewing past efforts to improve the space;

• meeting with City officials to get their support for exploring the idea;

• creating, disseminating, and analyzing student and staff surveys;

• running focus groups with students, staff and administrators; and

• hiring a GPS alumna, Aurelia Harrison, to support this work as a GEF summer intern.

We moved into a formal feasibility study in July 2025, led by Agency Landscape + Planning , to:

• conduct a preliminary site investigation;

• develop three conceptual options;

• run workshops with stakeholders to get feedback on the draft concepts;

• meet with DPW leadership to understand maintenance needs;

• refine the drafts into one, coherent concept; and

• work with a cost estimator to determine costs and potential phasing.